My turn

My fellow ACL bloggers have been churning out 2 year post-op updates so I'm feeling the pressure to follow suit.

Here's a quick summary:

1. Occasional cracking during some yoga poses.
2. No more numbness.
3. Still got some scar tissue. Probably because Mireille was too squeamish to massage the wound. I've made peace with the fact I might be dented forever...
4. Still can't bend quite as much as good knee but the difference is barely noticeable. Only a problem for certain yoga poses.
5. Experience some pain when kneeling on hard surfaces. Not sure it will ever go away because the padding was shaved down during surgery.
6. "Bad" leg is same size as "good leg".

Ouch

Lately, our workouts have shifted to include stuff that will whip us back into shape for Ultimate frisbee. That means jogging and some good leg exercises. But there's a problem...

Mr. Right Knee is hurting.

I'm fine, of course. Heck, I got fixed and I'm new and improved. I can handle the workouts... But buddy over here is sore all over!

Must be all that over-compensation coming back to haunt us.

If it's not one, it's the other. *sigh*

Back in action

It is official.

We've signed up to play Ultimate frisbee again. This is going to be interesting... Haven't played in 2.5 years. However, Mireille still practiced her throws. So that shouldn't be an issue. It's going for the disc that is scary... Hope no one throws it to us in the end zone. The pressure!

For anyone reading this with an injured ACL, don't worry. It's not that it took that long to recover. I also had a baby during that time. Caused further delay...

Of course, I'll be suited up in a knee brace for insurance.

Despite some fear, we are looking forward to it!!

Beef

A couple of months ago, a fellow Ultimate Frisbee player from the team we used to play on injured his knee. The unmistakable loud pop was heard from across the field.

Of course, he stopped playing and quickly made an appointment to see a sports med doctor and physiotherapist. He was also put on the waiting list for an MRI.

So, here's our beef.

When we first got injured, we followed the same protocol. Saw some professionals who examined the knee. We repeatedly got told: "Oh, it's probably just your meniscus."

"Well, your knee is tight. I doubt it's your ACL."

Yeah, well then we got our MRI results and there was a shopping list of damage. How devastating is that to hear after people have been playing down your injury??

My teammate went through the same thing. Despite hearing the pop, he was told it doesn't seem that bad. He just got his MRI results back and the injury is practically as extensive as ours was.

Ugh... wouldn't it be better to be told the worst and then be somewhat relieved when the results come back in? Why keep our hopes up?? Sorta like the concept of under-promise and over-deliver???

Rollin', rollin', rollin'...

So, we finally got a foam roller months after it was recommended by a fellow ACL blogger. And I love it!!

It was primarily bought for me but Mireille's also been using it to release tight muscles in her back. You may never need a professional massage again. (Slight exaggeration)

Ours is a Terra Fitness foam roller. Apparently, it's made from recycled stuff. Good for the knee and good for the earth. Way to go.

Go out and buy one. Now.

No, really. Now.

Tee Time

What better time to start taking golf lessons than coming back from an injury?

Mireille had been a self-taught golfer for the past 4 - 5 years. Before starting again after ACL surgery recovery, she (finally) decided it was time to take lessons. Time to iron out the kinks that had been following her season after season.

These lessons are actually proving to be good for me. Who knew that right-handed golfers, who pivot on their left leg, can turn their left foot out to ease pressure on the knee. Well, Mireille didn't.

I guess it's only helpful if you've injured your left knee...

Pure Laziness

I haven't written in forever and was hoping that I'd feel like it soon. I still don't feel like it.

I'll report on a few quick things:

1) All sensation is back -- no more numbness / dead zone below the kneecap. It took a year and 3 months to be normal again.

2) Still some bruisy-type pain in certain kneeling positions.

3) Feel 100% normal.

4) Strength and size is pretty much even.

Ok, there. That's it for now.